October 13, 2010
Idaho Fish & Game Director Among Elk Hunters Questioned for Trespassing
Cal Groen says he was butchering elk during his personal time on private property previously OK’d for access by his hunting party.
Cal Groen, director of Idaho Fish & Game, is under investigation for trespassing on private land during an incident near Elk City, Idaho County, in which he says he was helping his hunting party butcher elk.
The department on Wednesday afternoon released a statement that explained Groen was acting in a personal and not official capacity.
The statement appeared following a breaking news item on lmtribune.com, the website for the Lewiston Tribune. According to the report by the Tribune’s Eric Barker, County Prosecutor Kirk MacGregor said he expects a charge to be filed soon.
“As I understand it, it is going to happen,” MacGregor told the Tribune. “There will be a charge filed.”
Groen confirmed he expects the charge by Friday. He told the paper he wasn’t hunting but did help in the butchering on property where he said his friends had previously secured access. Apparently, that access approval had changed over the summer without his or his friends’ knowledge.
The statement from Fish & Game “reminds all hunters of the importance of knowing their hunting ground and to ask first before each hunting season to ensure they have appropriate permission to hunt on any private property.”
Groen has led the department since 2007.